It was his promise and he has conned both teachers and parents. No wonder so many newly qualified teachers are finding it hard to get a job

Labour’s education spokesman Hugh Henry

Labour yesterday hit out over the figures, which show there are now 3,690 fewer teachers than in 2007, after music specialists and supply staff are stripped out.

Including all teachers, a total of 51,410 were working in Scotland this year, a drop of just 21 from the previous year, but down from 55,100 in 2007.

Between 2006 and September 2009, the number of P1 to P3 pupils taught in a class with 26 or more fell from 57,424 to a low of 32,702. Then the number of P1 to P3 pupils being taught in classes of more than 26 increased to 38,278, a total of 23.2 per cent.

That followed the SNP’s 2007 election manifesto pledge to cut class sizes to 18 for the first three years of primary. The latest blow for Education Secretary Mike Russell comes weeks after he had to fend off resignation calls when he misled MSPs over college budget cuts.

He added: “Alex Salmond came to power in 2007 promising to maintain teacher numbers at 54,136. He quickly ditched this, and is now trying to blame local councils for the reduction of 3,902.

“It was his promise and he has conned both teachers and parents. No wonder so many newly qualified teachers are finding it hard to get a job.”

He said the government had also broken its promise to reduce class sizes in P1 to P3. “And it’s even worse in secondary school,” Mr Henry said. “SNP ministers have allowed an increase in class sizes in English and Maths in S1 and S2, vital transitional years for pupils.”

Scottish Tory education spokeswoman Liz Smith said: “The SNP came in with a bold promise to reduce class sizes in all P1 to P3 year groups, yet these figures are moving in the opposite direction.

“Every time the Scottish Government has been asked to explain the class size situation, it will only say very good progress is being made. But the reverse is happening. They need to explain why key election pledges are so far removed from the reality of our classrooms.” Lib Dem education spokesman Liam McArthur said: “These figures read like a list of broken promises.

“Mike Russell’s record on education is losing marks by the day.”

But Mr Russell insisted “real progress” had been made, despite difficult financial circumstances, and said: “Despite pupil numbers increasing, we have almost wiped out P1 classes of more than 25. The number of P1 children in these classes has fallen by 97 per cent since 2006. We have made progress.

“Where pupil numbers are rising, I anticipate that councils will increase teacher numbers in future.”

But Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the EIS teaching union, said: “Heavy teacher workload, including very high levels of unpaid overtime, has to be looked at. Teacher goodwill continues to be essential to the delivery of a quality education, but it is not endless.

“The Scottish Government and local authorities should be protecting teacher numbers by a guaranteed minimum staffing standard. That should offer stability to parents across Scotland.”

The National Statistics report also said 403 school buildings had been substantially rebuilt or refurbished in the last five financial years.

Schools reported as being in a good or satisfactory condition increased from 61 per cent in 2007 to 82 per cent this year.

The proportion of pupils educated at schools in a poor or bad state fell by more than half from 37 per cent of pupils in 2007 to 16 per cent in 2012.